MLB "is expected" to investigate White Sox OF Albert
Belle after his admission that he has lost as much as
$40,000 betting on sporting events, according to Phil Rogers
of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. The investigation into Belle's
gambling habits "could lead to a censure or even his sixth
career suspension." In a deposition taken from a civil suit
stemming from Belle's chasing Halloween pranksters in '95,
Belle said he had "paid off debts from bets on pro football
and college basketball games." Rogers notes "there was
little reaction from either the White Sox or baseball
officials" on the matter. MLB rules forbids players from
only betting on baseball, but Rogers notes the league "has a
long history of discouraging its parties from all forms of
gambling or association with gamblers." Belle's attorney,
Jose Feliciano, and his agent, Arn Tellem, said Wednesday
that Belle had never bet on baseball. White Sox Chair Jerry
Reinsdorf: "There is no indication that Albert bet on
baseball games. So at the moment, I'm not worried." One
ownership source: "Baseball has never looked too kindly on
any kind of illegal gambling" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/13).
BIG DEAL: In Chicago, Jerome Holtzman: "If Belle is
guilty of illegal betting -- and apparently he is -- so is
everyone else who makes an occasional wager. ... So long as
there is no evidence of Belle's betting on baseball games,
it isn't likely [Acting Commissioner Bud] Selig will pursue
the matter much further" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/13). Also in
Chicago, Bob Verdi: "When baseball investigates, and it
will, the fact that this information came from Belle should
not be taken lightly, although it would feel cleaner if he
had said he didn't dabble in the national pastime" (CHICAGO
TRIBUNE, 2/13). The SUN-TIMES' Jay Mariotti calls Belle's
refusal to answer whether he bet on baseball in his
deposition "strange." Mariotti: "He should be eager to
quiet doubts, not open cans of worms. ... If Albert Belle
hasn't bet on baseball, he needs to say so" (CHICAGO SUN-
TIMES, 2/13). One MLB official says the gambling may get
Belle a "stern warning and maybe probation" (N.Y. TIMES,
2/13). A "high-level" MLB source tells the N.Y. DAILY NEWS'
Bill Madden that "it did not appear" Belle bet on MLB and
that Belle is "cooperating with the Justice Department in a
probe of bookmakers" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 2/13).
LEVINE STAYS PUT: MLB's top labor exec Randy Levine has
told Acting Commissioner Selig that he will remain with MLB
and "pass up an offer to return to New York City politics,"
according to Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST. Sources
tell Maske that Levine will remain the head of the owners'
Player Relations Committee and "could assume greater
responsibilities as the owners conduct their commissioner
search and try to determine a leadership structure for the
sport" (WASHINGTON POST, 2/13).
